Cleaning an old strat pickguard.

[Joe Arnold]

I'm cleaning and repairing  an old Squire Strat for a friend.  He got this guitar used and the original owner had put stickers all over the guitar body and pickguard.  He also evidently was a heavy smoker.  I've got the stickers and adhesive cleaned off, but it has left a very nasty yellow color where it was once white.  I wouldn't worry if the stickers hadn't been there as I would just call it "cream" but where the stickers were it is the original white.  Does anyone know if its possible to clean years of cigarette smoke from a white plastic pickguard or is the only option to replace it?

Thanks.

[Mark Pollock]

A new pickguard is just not that expensive, so I would first try cleaning what you have - perhaps a light sanding and buffing, perhaps treating the guard with some bleach, perhaps just some sunlight for a few days. You can always try a treatment on the back of the guard to make sure there is no damaging effect, and then treat the front.

How does the back of the guard look? How about the edges that were facing the pickups? If it is yellow on the back too, then you are out of luck, I guess.

[Paul Verticchio]

Mark hit the nail on the head.  A new PG is in order.

http://store.guitarfetish.com/Strat-Pickguard-1964-Aged-White_p_123...

At less than $20 delivered, it's MUCH more cost effective than spending a couple of hours trying to re-furb the original. Originality on a Squire (even the original MIJ models) is never an issue.

Best of luck (-:

[Russell Vance]

Second that, I've come up against the same problem a number of times  - the MIJ's seem particularly prone to this darkening - perhaps they have used a different plastic to the USA manufactured guitars from time to time - and short of mechanically resurfacing the face - sanding, polishing, buffing - nothing else seems to work.

The darkening process is almost down to a brown shade in some cases and it does not come off with any chemical strip (that I can source). I am also not so sure that it's a cigarette smoke problem - it generally seems very consistent and has no grimy residue/film.     New PG is a sure bet (always check the screw placement / positioning before ordering) - Rusty.

[Joe Arnold]

Thanks folks... That's what I figured... Just thought I'd ask around before I did... Can't fault trying to save a few bucks these days... Thanks again!